The FA Statement sent to club secretaries by FA Chairman Greg Clarke regarding the recent disclosures of child abuse in football.

Everyone at The FA is appalled by the horrific abuse that has been suffered by former footballers. I applaud their immense courage and bravery in coming forward. Our thoughts are with the victims of this abuse and we are clear that we will do everything we can to support them.

I wanted to ensure that you are left in no doubt concerning how seriously The FA is approaching these disclosures. At the moment, and in line with the  normal FA safeguarding procedures, we are working closely with the police and relevant authorities and we continue to encourage anyone with information about possible child abuse to report their concerns to the police, The FA or the NSPCC.

I am sure you too are deeply concerned about the recent disclosures and it is of course important to emphasise the diligence with which clubs must approach their safeguarding responsibilities. I am therefore writing to every grassroots club in the country, while my counterparts in the Premier League and EFL are writing to the professional clubs too
All clubs need to ensure their safeguarding is a priority. Together, we will make sure that the game we all love can be played in a safe, fun environment.

Firstly, I would like your help to ensure that we can offer support to those who need it. Please ensure that those are your club are aware of the specific helpline we have commissioned the NSPCC to provide to help encourage more people to come forward. The number is 0800 023 2642.

Secondly, I ask you too for extra vigilance with regards to safeguarding and your procedures. If you have any concerns, please contact The FA through safeguarding@thefa.com.

We cannot and will not be complacent. Despite the face that the safeguarding landscape has changed significantly in recent years, we must ensure we all treat the topic with the utmost care.

As you know, The FA works collaboratively on prevention and investigations with the team of safeguarding professionals who put in place preventative measures via policy, education, best practice and support for the network of people acting as Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSOs). That team is here to help you if you need it; as a grassroots club you can also seek advice and guidance directly from your CFA DSO. In addition our specialist Case Management Team comprised of safeguarding professionals manage referrals and concerns, working closely with the statutory agencies in relation to investigations and put in place safeguards to manage people who pose, or may pose a risk of harm.

This framework sees 8,500 DSOs across the professional and grassroots game and carries out some 55,000 criminal records checks each season. 35,000 coaches and referees also attend The FA's safeguarding awareness course each season and each club of course also implements its own safeguarding policy.

Collectively we will continue to work together to ensure that these measures are robust and that football is played safely across the country. 

If you have any concerns please contact us.
 
Greg Clarke
Chairman

Read more at http://www.bedfordshirefa.com/news/2016/nov/fa-statement-child-welfare#BSt0fMhbRdfujT0d.99

Grassroots football is played by millions of people each weekend to have fun. It’s a great way of keeping fit physically, while spending time with friends. Most children’s football clubs are run by a group of volunteer parents that dedicate their time to running the club in accordance with FA rules. There are a variety of club fee’s to be paid, and this cost is passed on to parents in the form player fee’s; They’re essential for the club to exist, but this means that for parents the cost of youth football can add up.  

So, how can you keep the cost of youth football under control?

Blunham Youth FC are dedicated to making their club accessible to as many children as possible. By identifying ways to maintain low fees, they strive for the club to be to be accessible to all local children without the associated financial strain of joining acting as a barrier to some. And this season, Blunham Youth FC found an unusual way to raise funds…

You wouldn't have found many scarier sights last weekend, than being confronted with over 60 boys and girls each armed with a football. The players and coaches from Blunham Youth Football Club took on the envious task of completing a 7km sponsored dribble from Blunham to the Danish Camp at Willington, all to raise funds to support the club.

The children aged between 8-12 set off just after midday and were met at the Danish Camp with ice creams to boost their energy for the return trip.  The children and coaches completed the ‘Dribble to the Danish’ in under 2 hours, and amazingly so did all of the footballs (with only one ball getting a little wet in the River Great Ouse!).

A BBQ greeted them at The Horseshoes PH, Blunham where players, coaches and families joined to celebrate their success. The monies raised by the children will contribute greatly to maintaining the clubs current low fees for another season. A big thank you to Roy and Liz from the The Horseshoes PH,and to the Danish Camp at Willington for supporting the children and their families at this event. A great day was had by all, and we hope that even more children will be able to enjoy being part of our team in the future.

We are starting to make winning a habit, even if it's not always pretty.

With 3 boys out It was Dunstable who hit the post early on from a corner to wake us up.
We showed them how it should be done when Kacpers corner was met by a firm Zac header, 1-0 with only 7 mins gone.
It could have been the same again 5 mins later but this time Zac headed just over. We controlled the game at this point and Maxwell, Jacques and Chris constantly looked to use our width.
Our 2nd came when Chris found Louis, who's pass split the back 4 and gave Kacper time to hit the bottom corner.
We should have added number 3 through Josh who just couldn't sort out his feet and Jacques header when both looked easier to score.
Conor and Alesandro came on to give us fresh legs but a mistake from a corner allowed Dunstable back in the game.
Blunham continued to press as we had dominated large spells of the 1st half and we were rewarded again when Maxwell pounced to slot home number 3.
The 2nd half saw Simon and Gabriel pinned back as Dunstable switched to a quicker front line, and Dunstable were rewarded when a free kick from the edge of our box was superbly dispatched 3.2.
The 2nd half saw chances at both ends being created and Alesandro had a chance from the 6 yard box that was saved well.
Route 1 football saved our day when Chris won the ball on the edge of our box and hit a long ball that Kacper ran onto to slot home for his 2nd and our 4th.
A wonder strike from 20 yards made the last few minutes a little nervous for us but we held on to win 4-3 and stay top.

After last weeks shambles we bounce back to winning form with a confident display against Dunstable.

We also got to show off our new yellow 3rd kit due to a communication problem!
We started well playing the ball around midfield with Chris, Jacques and Maxwell controlling the pace of the game.
The back 4 looked solid and protected Tom in goal well and it was centre back Zac who scored the 1st goal from a Kacper corner with his chest.
Louis looked dangerous upfront and he hit number 2 breaking through the offside trap rounding the keeper and slotting into an empty net.
Our 3rd came from Conor and Alesandro moving the ball quickly in midfield and breaking down the right, Louis cross was directed into the goal by the Dunstable defender.
We continued to look dangerous going forwards but our final ball was just a little heavy. Gianmarco, Josh and both Kacpers all looked dangerous and kept creating chances and Simon, George, Zac and Gabriel added to our attacking threat when they could.
I thought our 4th was our best goal, Gabriel and Maxwell played some nice 1st touch passes down the right, Maxwell then slotted Gianmarco in who took his time to cross for Josh to score. Another Kacper corner found Conor who drilled home to round off a great team performance.

Blunham 1 Leighton 0

A scrappy game played in blustery conditions, but a win is a win even if it was a little controversial!
The 1st half was more of a midfield game of chess with neither team really creating a clear chance. Louis had a couple that fell on his wrong foot and Cody, George, Simon and Zac kept all Leighton's shots from distance. We did break through eventually with Alex bursting onto an error and firing home putting us 1 up at half time.
Conor came on to tighten up our midfield and Gabriel brought us fresh legs down the right, and we went into the break ahead.
Several chances created in the 2nd half weren't put away and Chris, Zac from a header and Kacper all came close.
Alesandro was pulling the strings from midfield by doing the simple stuff well and Josh, Kacper, Gianmarco and Maxwell tried hard to keep our momentum going.
Alex hit the post and it looked like it was going to finish 1-0 as Leighton again couldn't beat Tom between the sticks.
The controversy came within the last 2 minutes when a shot came of the bar and dropped on the line. It wasn't given and therefore we held on to win 1-0.
Mom Simon who again goes from strength to strength at left back

Markyate 2      Blunham 7

With most parents dressed for a trip across the Artic it was a cow field in Markyate we eventually ended up in!
Having worked on passing and movement at training it was always going to be difficult to demonstrate this on this surface.
Markyate were the better team for the 1st 15 mins and Maxwell, Alessandro and Jacques found it hard to make an impact in the centre of midfield. We went 1.0 down to a sloppy goal that bounced 3 times without anyone taking control, before being poked home into an empty net.
3 inspired substitutions saw MOM Chris come on and his 1st touch put the 2nd sub Kacper P through who struck home sweetly also with his 1st touch.
We continued to Battle and birthday boy Zac started to look a little more composed, and his pass to Chris gave him time to look up and again put alex through who hit the 1st of his 3.
The 2nd half saw Gianmarco, Josh and the excellent Kacper P, free up Chris to move further forwards, and he scored a deserved goal off a Louis assist.
Louis was then brought down after some good footwork and got up to slot home the pen. We dominated the 2nd half and now looked comfortable on the ball.
Alex scored from close range after a strong run from Chris, his pass found  Louis who hit the post but the ball fell to Alex from 2 foot out 5-1.
Kacper K delightful chip made it 6-1 and with less than 10 minutes remaining I changed the formation. This backfired as George missed his challenge and allowed Markyate to grab a late consolation past Simon.
However we had the last laugh thou as Alex scored again after Louis put him through with 2 minutes remaining.
7-2 and another good win that keeps us top of the league!

BPR 0 Blunham 1

Who would have thought you could have that much fun in the monsoon this morning, and Tina's really happy with the washing pile!
We knew it would be our toughest test yet however we worked on our faults from previous weeks and set the boys up tactically to stop their threat and allow ours to prosper.
Chris had the task of keeping the leagues top scorer quiet and he was superb at that. Supported  in midfield by both Kacper's, Josh, Jacques and Maxwell we used our pace upfront to create several chances and Alex and Louis always looked to thread the ball through.
Kacper was brought down after 16 mins and Chris stepped up confidently to hit home however he aimed for the sparrow in the tree behind and missed that as well!
2 minutes later Kacper burst through and curled a screamer into the top corner. 1-0 Blunham with Simon, Cody, Zac and the excellent man of the match George who won everything keeping BPR out and restricting them to only 1 wayward shot it stayed that way till half time.
The sun showed its face in the 2nd half and Gabriel, Alessandro and Gianmarco all came on to support those who were feeling the pace. We should have had another penalty when Alex was taken out by the goalie and Tom pulled off a fine save from a header late on. Overall we were the better team and deserve our spot at the top of the league.
I know some will be disappointed with their game time but it's a squad game and your time will come. Well done again boys and I hope you've dried out by Tuesday